A FAMILY today hit out at the criminal justice system after two youths who turned their friend into a fireball in a so-called prank were spared a custodial sentence by a judge.

Lee White suffered horrific face and chest burns and is permanently scarred following the nightmare ordeal.

He was in so much pain that he begged: "Let me die."

Apprentice mechanic Mr White, who spent a month recovering in hospital, has taken refuge in France because he can't face life here. He was set alight by 18-year-old Lee Matthews and 17-year-old Justin Winslet for kicks at one of their homes after the three friends went out on a drinking and cannabis binge.

Mr White, from near Southampton, had been asleep on the sofa when they decided to play a joke on him.

After the case at Southampton Crown Court, in which the two youngsters received community punishment orders, Mr White's family spoke of their anguish.

His great-aunt Trish Lucas, 50, who was the first to see Mr White after the incident, described how he was screaming like an animal and his skin was just hanging off him.

She said: "My emotions are running so high. I cannot believe the result and I can't imagine how Lee is going to feel when he hears the result.

"They should have been sent to jail. Justice has not been done. It's disgusting they have just walked away. They wouldn't even phone for an ambulance."

Judge Christopher Leigh QC told the court he could not jail Matthews and Winslet because the prisons were full and judges were under pressure to find alternative punishments.

But Mr White's mother, Kim Cove, 39, said: "It's terrible. Lee is scarred for the rest of his life.

"All he kept saying when it happened was 'let me die'. If his Auntie Trish had not been here he would have died."

The terrifying incident unfolded at a house at Hounsdown, Totton, after a drinks and cannabis-smoking session.

Mr White suffered 25 per cent burns after his pals poured windscreen-washing fluid and lighter fluid on to his T-shirt and set it alight as a practical joke.

Initially detained in Southampton General Hospital, he was later transferred to the special burns unit at Odstock, Salisbury.

Matthews, of Players Crescent, Hounsdown, and Winslet, of Spicers Hill, Totton, admitted grievous bodily harm. They received a 90-hour community punishment order and a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

James Leonard, prosecuting, said in the past they had played practical jokes on each other but this was one which went "horribly, horribly wrong".

He added: "They clearly realised how serious the situation was and they took steps to try to put the fire out.

"But they realised their efforts were going nowhere and he was screaming in pain and they took him to White's aunt who was staying at his grandmother's house nearby."

The court heard that initially the teenager did not want his "mates'" to get into trouble because he was sure what they had done was not intentional but later left the decision to the police to decide what action should be taken.

Judge Leigh accepted it was a practical joke that had gone horribly wrong. They had not intended to cause him harm.

"If there is one thing that shines through the documents and reports that I have read, it is that you are both consumed with guilt and remorse," he said.

"Whatever decision I make, some people will think it is wrong but I must ask myself whether in all the circumstances a custodial sentence is necessary."

Reporting restrictions preventing the naming of Winslet, a juvenile, were lifted after a legal challenge by the Daily Echo.